See the best of Venice on a free tour

From the many trips to Venice I have made over the years, I have learned that unfortunately it’s not worth paying a lot for a guided tour: since free tours have become increasingly popular in Venice in recent years, it’s better to use this option and save something from an always expensive trip.

Venice is a unique and beautiful city with a very interesting history, so it would be worth considering paying for a professional and experienced guide to discover the art, history, and curiosities of the Serenissima. However, it is very difficult to find a guide so skilled and knowledgeable that they justify the price demanded: few guides possess the required skills and knowledge, and identifying them can be difficult. It’s difficult enough for me, a native Italian, so I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for foreigners. For this reason, in Venice, as in many other cities around the world, it now makes sense to rely on free tours: however the quality of free tours can vary, overall free tours provide a valuable and worthwhile experience.

Because they are very popular, these tours require prior online booking to secure your spot.

One reputable website for booking free tours in Venice is Civitatis:
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Since Venice is always crowded with tourists, it’s always better to book these tours well in advance, as they are becoming increasingly popular. However, if you change your mind be sure to cancel your reservation: you can cancel up to 6 hours before the tour starts. CAUTION: the reservation is free, and the tour is also free, but if you don’t show up and haven’t cancelled the reservation in time, a fee of 5€ will be charged (the number of available places is not infinite, and if too many people fail to show up without cancelling, they exclude others who would like to participate).

Please note that reservations are free, and the tours are always free, but of course, if you are satisfied at the end, it is customary to tip the guide. The amount you give is up to you, but it’s customary to tip based on your satisfaction: in other cities, in rare cases where I was really unsatisfied, I gave nothing, but in other cases, I’ve left between 2 to 10 euros depending on how satisfied I was. Don’t let suggestions of specific amounts dictate your tipping behavior: there is no point in listening to those who write “you must give at least 10€ per person” or more. Imagine instead how much the guide would receive if every participant gave a few euros each, and you will see that for very large groups there’s no need to give too much to ensure a fair compensation. Because it’s right to adequately compensate someone who provides a service that is appreciated. And I’ve personally found free tours to be a good experience in many cities I’ve visited, especially considering how many times I have been very disappointed by expensive paid guided tours.

Please note that the main ‘Venice Free Tour‘ is available every day, while other tours are usually conducted only once a week: be sure to check the tour schedule carefully when planning your trip to Venice. Pay attention to all the details on the tour booking page, especially the meeting point and start time of the tour.

 

Reviews and opinions

The high average score of positive reviews confirms the quality of these free tours. Each tour has thousands of participants, much more than any other paid activity in Venice.

Of course, whether you’re satisfied or not depends on your expectations and personal interests.

To compare, also consider other paid activities in Venice:
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Or explore all the offers on Civitatis.

 

Cover Photocredit: postcardtrip, license Pixabay